FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots’ star tight end went off Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

His Denver Broncos counterpart? Not so much.

Though Julius Thomas did come down with a touchdown catch in the Broncos’ 43-21 loss, he finished with just two receptions for 33 yards and was not targeted once in the first half.

That’s not the way it’s supposed to be, said quarterback Peyton Manning, who shouldered the blame for not getting the 2013 Pro Bowler the ball.

“He made a nice play on his touchdown play, and that’s something I’m sure that we need to take a look at — how to get him more involved,” Manning said after the game. “We’ve always done a pretty good job at getting guys involved which helps them throughout the game, so that’s on me, too. I need to find a way to get him the ball.

“He’s a playmaker, so I probably should have gotten the ball to him more with some different things. Whatever plays were called, if I could just get him involved, that’s something that I could have done better. I feel like we’re at our best when I’m getting him involved.”

Thomas’ touchdown grab with his ninth of the season, tying him with Randall Cobb and Antonio Gates for tops in the NFL. His week-by-week production has dropped of late, however. After catching four or more balls in five of his first six games, he’s now caught just two in consecutive weeks.